Removably mounted fastening components

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed to fastening components that may be adjusted or removed. In particular, the invention is directed to an apparatus including a head and an elongated member coupled to the head, the elongated member being configured to be removably received by a fastener.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Button and hook fasteners have long been used to secure materials such as fabrics, for example, denim, cotton, nylon, canvas, etc., in various configurations. They are used, for example, with pants, skirts, coats, shirts, and many other items of clothing. Often, a button can be used to secure one section of fabric together with another section of fabric. Such a configuration is used often to secure, for example, the waist portion of a skirt or pair of pants, or the front center portion of a coat or dress shirt.

An individual may find an article of clothing to be too tight or too loose at a buttoned or hooked section of the article of clothing. It is often the case that if the button or hook were moved a short distance, the individual would find the article of clothing to be of a better fit. The process of altering the position of a button or hook fastener conventionally entails the disassembly of the fastening configuration, followed by re-assembly at a different position on the fabric. This is usually a time-consuming process for an individual, whether the individual chooses to perform the process directly, or find a professional tailor to make the alteration. In addition, as an individual potentially decreases or increases in size (e.g., by losing or gaining weight) after the initial alteration, this conventional method becomes even more burdensome. Furthermore, certain fastening configurations are not conducive to the conventional method of altering fasteners. For example, denim clothing commonly uses attaching machines to attach buttons to the denim, resulting in permanent attachments that are difficult and impractical to remove.

Another conventional method for coping with a slightly misfitted pant or skirt is the usage of a belt around the waist portion of the pant or skirt. This method, however, has the limitation of being of use only when the pant or skirt is fitted too loosely on an individual. A belt is made only to further tighten a fit, and is incapable of loosening a fit. Further, a belt may not be stylistically desirable with certain outfits, or for certain individuals in general.

Hence, it is desirable to have a solution without the above-described disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a first fastening component including a head and elongated member.

FIG. 1B shows a front view of an embodiment of a first fastening component including a head and elongated member.

FIG. 1C shows a back view of an embodiment of a first fastening component including a head and elongated member.

FIG. 2A shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a first fastening component including a head, offset and elongated member.

FIG. 2B shows a front view of an embodiment of a first fastening component including a head, offset and elongated member.

FIG. 2C shows a back view of an embodiment of a first fastening component including a head, offset and elongated member.

FIG. 2D shows another embodiment of a first fastening component including a head, offset and elongated member.

FIG. 3 shows the first fastening component of FIG. 1A-C to be received by an embodiment of a clasp.

FIG. 4A shows the first fastening component of FIG. 2A-C to be received by an embodiment of a clutch.

FIG. 4B shows the first fastening component of FIG. 2A-C passing through fabric, being received by an embodiment of a clutch.

FIG. 4C shows another embodiment of a first fastening component to be received by an embodiment of a clutch.

FIG. 4D shows the first fastening component of FIG. 4C being received by the clutch of FIG. 4C.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of a first fastening component including a head and elongated member.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the first fastening component of FIG. 5 to be received by an embodiment of a second fastening component.

FIG. 7 shows the head of an embodiment of a first fastening component with decorative features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention is directed to fastening components that may be adjusted or removed. In particular, the invention is directed to an apparatus including a head and an elongated member coupled to the head, the elongated member being configured to be removably received by a fastener.

Referring to FIG. 1A-C, an embodiment of a first fastening component 100 including a head 110 and an elongated member 120 is illustrated. FIG. 1A depicts a cross-sectional view, FIG. 1B a front view, and FIG. 1C a back view.

Referring to FIG. 2A-C, another embodiment of a first fastening component 200 including a head 210, an offset 230, and an elongated member 220 is illustrated. FIG. 2A depicts a cross-sectional view, FIG. 2B a front view, and FIG. 2C a back view. As can be seen in FIG. 2A, elongated member 220 may include a sharp tip 222, which may be used to manually puncture materials such as fabric. Offset 230 may be positioned against fabric to provide support for elongated member 220 while first fastening component 200 is inserted the fabric.

Another embodiment of a first fastening component 200B is illustrated in FIG. 2D. First fastening component 200B may include a head 210, offset 231 and elongated member 220. Offset 231 includes a flange 232, which may provide support in addition to that provided by an offset alone.

FIG. 3 shows first fastening component 100 configured to be received by opening 302 of a second fastening component 300, shown as a generic clasp. First fastening component 100 may pass through a material such as fabric before being received by clasp 300. Head 110 may be structured, for example, as a button. This configuration may allow a user to position a “button” embodied as first fastening component 100 through, for example, one of several fabric openings. The elongated member 220 may then be removably anchored in that position by clasp 300. This may allow the user to adjust the position of first fastening component 100, for example, for optimal fit of an article of clothing.

FIG. 4A shows first fastening component 200 configured to be received by a second fastening component 400, shown as a clutch. Since the tip 222 of elongated member 220 is sharp, a user may manually puncture fabric 201 so as to pass first fastening component 200 through fabric 201 of FIG. 4B before being received by clutch 400, as illustrated in FIG. 4B. This may provide further flexibility, since no pre-manufactured openings are required in the fabric for the convenient manual re-positioning of first fastening component 200 and its re-anchoring to clutch 400.

FIG. 4C illustrates another embodiment of a first fastening component 1200. Elongated member 1220 of first fastening component 1200 may include indentation 1224. Indentation 1224 may allow a clutch 1400 to securely hold elongated member 1220. For example, as shown in FIG. 4C, clutch 1400 may include a slot 1420 to receive elongated member 1220. Clutch 1400 may also include openings 1424 a and 1424 b through which lock structures 1430 a and 1430 b may enter into a closed position as shown in FIG. 4D, and thus anchor, at indentation 1224, elongated member 1220 within slot 1420. Lock structures 1430 a and 1430 b may alternatively move into an open position as shown in FIG. 4C to release elongated member 1220 from slot 1420. Lock structures 1430 a and 1430 b may alternate between open and closed positions via various mechanical configurations, known to those skilled in the art, including but not limited to one or a combination of springs, hinges, plugs, wedges, etc.

Another embodiment of a first fastening component 500 is shown in FIG. 5. First fastening component 500 may include a head 510 and an elongated member 520. Elongated member 520 may include threads 524, configured, for example to be received by second fastening component 600 of FIG. 6. Second fastening component 600 may include housing 610 with opening 620, through which elongated member 520 may be received. Elongated member 520 may be anchored into opening 620 via grooves 624.

FIG. 7 illustrates the front face of head 710 of an embodiment of a first fastening component 700. Head 710 may be decorative as shown, for example, to resemble a traditionally sewn button. Head 710 may include one or more of various decorative styles, sizes, shapes, colors, and materials. Alternatively, it may be stylistically plain and discreet.

Although the above embodiments are described and illustrated in the context of fashion, the scope of the invention extends to other applications where such functions are useful. Furthermore, while the foregoing description has been put forth with reference to particular embodiments of the invention, it will be appreciated that these are only illustrative of the invention and that changes may be made to those embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. An apparatus, comprising: a head; an elongated member coupled to the head, the elongated member being configured to be removably received by a fastener.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated member is configured to be manually attachable to the fastener.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated member includes an indentation disposed between opposing ends of the elongated member.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated member is configured to manually puncture fabric.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated member includes a sharp tip.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated member is configured to be received by fabric including at least one pre-manufactured opening.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongated member comprises at least one thread.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an offset disposed between the head and the elongated member.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the offset comprises a flange disposed at an end of the offset.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a fastener configured to removably hold the elongated member.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the fastener comprises a clasp.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the fastener comprises a clutch.
 13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the fastener comprises at least one groove to receive a thread of the elongated member.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the head comprises a button.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the head comprises decorative features.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the head resembles a sewn button. 